Ajo Border Patrol agents arrested eight foreign nationals Wednesday evening on the Tohono O’odham Nation, suspected of smuggling almost 300 pounds of marijuana.
Agents patrolling a remote area on horseback near the Mesquite Mountains were tracking footprints along a known drug smuggling trail when they encountered four men dressed in camouflaged clothing and hiding in the brush. Agents secured the suspects and continued searching the area for more people and possible narcotics.
During the search, agents located four more men and 21 bundles of marijuana, weighing a combined 292 pounds.
Agents transported the marijuana, worth an estimated $146,000, and suspects to the Ajo Border Patrol Station for further processing. During processing, agents identified the suspects as being from Mexico and Honduras, all illegally present in the United States. The suspects will be presented for prosecution on federal drug smuggling charges and immigration violations.